The
La Plata County Planning Commission held its monthly meeting dedicated
to updating the county’s 2001 Comprehensive Plan on Thursday, Aug. 4,
and completed its discussion of the plan's housing element. The Planning
Commission gave direction to staff to bring the updated Housing,
Airport, and Land Use elements back in September for formal adoption.

The Comprehensive Plan considers housing in the context of whether it is
“affordable,” defined as gross housing costs - including utilities -
for which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of his gross
income. Since the 2001 Comprehensive Plan was adopted, the median home
price in La Plata County has risen 63 percent, while the median family
income has increased 48 percent. This gap prompted the county, through
the Comprehensive Plan update, to establish goals, objectives, policies
and recommendations to help ensure a full range of housing options are
available to county residents today, and those projected to arrive in
the years to come.

This
is multi-faceted conversation that incorporates density, infrastructure
demand and outside partners who bring targeted resources to help
address the county’s housing challenges. Given the magnitude and
complexity of the demand for affordable housing, addressing the
situation requires many entities.

The
Planning Commission will consider a resolution to adopt the Housing,
Airport and Land Use elements, as well as discuss the Extractive
Resources & Renewable Energy element of the Comprehensive Plan at
its Sept. 1 meeting at 6 p.m. in the county board room at the La Plata
County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave., Durango.